In a riveting spectacle in Jeddah, Real Madrid is set to face off against FC Barcelona in the Spanish Supercup showdown this Sunday. The anticipation stemmed from an emphatic 3-0 triumph over Mallorca in Thursday’s semifinal, stirring excitement among fans and pundits alike. “It’s a great time for football,” said an enthusiastic commentator, capturing the spirit of the moment.
The evening’s heroics kicked off in the 63rd minute when Jude Bellingham, with grace and precision, unravelled Mallorca’s defense. His cool finish came after Rodrygo had struck the post with a diving header, and a subsequent attempt by Kylian Mbappé was expertly blocked by Mallorca’s agile goalie, Dominik Greif. It was a sequence that had hearts racing and eyes glued to the screen.
The drama didn’t stop there. In a twist of fate, Martin Valjent of Mallorca inadvertently found the back of his own net, trying to intercept Brahim Diaz’s intended pass to Mbappé during the dying minutes of injury time. The match concluded with a cherry on top as Rodrygo netted a celebratory goal on his birthday, etching a final score of 3-0 and sealing a delightful present for Madrid supporters.
Mallorca’s coach, Jagoba Arrasate, had earlier emphasized the importance of a sharp start, urging his team to hit the ground running. However, Real Madrid almost derailed those plans within moments of kickoff. A sweeping run by Mbappé culminated in a promising setup for Bellingham, whose shot forced Greif into an early save.
Mbappé and Rodrygo continued to threaten the opposition with tenacity. The French attacker orchestrated a move that nearly netted a goal at the near post, only to witness his own attempt stifled by Mallorca’s staunch defense. Amidst this flurry of attacks, Aurelien Tchouameni and Bellingham each took their chances from distance, testing Greif’s reflexive prowess.
Throughout the bout, Mallorca hunkered down in their half, aiming to shield the likes of Mbappé and Vinicius from exploiting open spaces. Tensions simmered, especially between Vinicius and Mallorca’s spirited right-back, Pablo Maffeo. “Things were getting real heated,” remarked an observer describing the edgy encounters.
Mallorca’s attacking hopes rested on Dani Rodriguez, Vedat Muriqi, and Cyle Larin. Yet, an opportunity slipped by when Larin, left without a marker, misjudged a header from Rodriguez’s cross. It was a chance that could have swayed the momentum slightly back in favor of Mallorca, but alas, wasn’t to be.
When Bellingham finally broke the deadlock, Mallorca, reminiscent of last season’s Copa del Rey runner-up form, appeared to fade, struggling to rekindle the spark necessary to mount a comeback. The closing moments of the match were marked by a scuffle when a playful, yet ill-timed pat by Bellingham on Maffeo’s head ignited tempers. Madrid’s Raul Asencio joined the fray, capturing the fiery spirit of this rivalry.
On the other side of the semifinal draws, FC Barcelona exhibited their prowess through a victory over Athletic Bilbao, with youngsters Gavi and Lamine Yamal showcasing their burgeoning talent. As the curtain readies to rise for Sunday’s anticipated clash, two of Spain’s footballing juggernauts stand poised, eager to claim victory and bragging rights.
Edited by: Ali Musa
alimusa@axadletimes.com
Axadle international–Monitoring
